The United Nations Commission on Human Rights decided this morning (Thursday) to postpone the Brazilian resolution on “sexual orientation and human rights” – first of its kind – to the next Human Rights session, the 61st, in 2005.  This decision was made “by consensus”, without debate or vote.

Ambassador Mike Smith (Australia), chairing the session, noted that there was no objection nor opposition to the Brazilian request dated March 31 to defer consultation of the draft resolution.

Concerns were high at one point that the resolution could have been defeated or completely withdrawn from the UN agenda.

For the first time at the UN a large coalition of LGBT activists from all over the world, representing many organizations from countries as diverse as Fiji, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Sierra Leone, Chile, India and Nepal have been working in Geneva alongside representatives from Europe.

“This postponement gives LGBT activists another year to thoroughly prepare and fight the formidable forces massed against the resolution,” commented Rosanna Flamer Caldera (Sri Lanka), co-chair of International Lesbian and Gay Association in Geneva this evening.

“ILGA’s petition, more than ever, can be an extremely useful tool to this effect”, she added.

The petition already has more than 44,000 signatures and ILGA has pledged to continue the petition until next year, when it will be presented.  The petition was started less than four months ago.

International Lesbian and Gay Association website

14 April, 2004